Dhaka — In a significant legal development, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has summoned 20 high-profile individuals, including former army chief Ziaul Ahsan and ten former ministers, to appear in court next month. The summons is linked to alleged crimes against humanity and genocide committed during the July-August uprising that resulted in widespread violence and loss of life. The order, issued by a three-member ICT bench led by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, came in response to an application from Chief Prosecutor Md Tajul Islam. The prosecution alleges that the uprising led to the deaths of at least 753 individuals, with thousands more sustaining injuries.
This period has been characterized by the ICT and the interim government as one marked by severe human rights violations, prompting over 60 complaints against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her party leaders for their involvement. Among those summoned for a court appearance on November 18 are notable former ministers Faruq Khan, Rashed Khan Menon, Hasanul Haq Inu, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Abdur Razzaque, Shahjahan Khan, Kamal Ahmed Majumder, and Golam Dastagir Gazi. Additionally, former advisors to Hasina, Tawfiq-e-Elahi and Salman F Rahman, as well as former justice Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik and former home secretary Jahangir Alam, have been included on the list.
This recent development follows the tribunal's issuance of arrest warrants on October 17 for Hasina and 45 others, including her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and various cabinet members. The ICT was established in March 2010 under Hasina's Awami League government to prosecute those responsible for war crimes during Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War. However, the tribunal has faced criticism and scrutiny, especially regarding its effectiveness and the political implications of its proceedings.
The tribunal has been reconstituted under the interim government led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, who has been in power since August following Prime Minister Hasina's departure to India amidst escalating student-led protests. The ICT remained inactive since mid-June due to the retirement of its chairman. As the legal proceedings unfold, the eyes of the nation—and indeed the world—will remain focused on how the ICT addresses these serious allegations against prominent figures in Bangladesh's political landscape. The outcome could have far-reaching implications for the country’s political climate and the ongoing discourse surrounding accountability and justice for past atrocities.
